Thumb Piano

Chokwe Sanza - Tray-shaped-signed

Angola/Zambia/Democratic Republic of Congo
Chokwe

Wood, iron, wire
Pre-20th century

Length: 19cm (7.5 inches) x Width: 15cm (6 inches) x Depth: 6.5cm (2.5 inches)
Idiophone - Plucked - Lamellophone

Oval tray-shaped Lamellophone (thumb piano)of the Chokwe People of Central Africa, with 22 iron keys mounted on a wooden disc base attached by wire and an iron bracket. The based is incised with the name of owner or maker on the backside and a representation of a fish. Encrusted patina with two old splits. Beautiful sound when played. The earliest thumb pianos in Africa appeared at least 3000 years ago in West Africa. It had bamboo keys (tongues)and were referred to as kalimba. Metal (tongue) lamellophones appeared later, around 1,300 years ago in the Zambezi River Valley. Today, according to the regions of their origin, these instruments are known by many different names: Mbira, Mbila, Hurdy Gurdy, Marimba, Karimba, Kalimba, Likembe, Sanza, and Okeme. Larger lamellophones from Africa, also called kalimba, appear in the Caribbean Islands and are called marimbula.

Owner:
Catalog#: AF-IDPL-4-39

© Hartenberger World Music Collection